US President Donald Trump encouraged American Jews to observe a national Sabbath from sundown on May 15 to nightfall on May 16 in honor of 250 years of American independence.
The suggestion was made during his Jewish American Heritage Month proclamation on Monday.
Celebrating a national Sabbath, he said, would honor the “countless contributions of Jewish Americans throughout our nation’s 250 glorious years of independence” as well as recognize the Jewish tradition of setting aside time for rest, reflection, and gratitude to God.
Trump spoke of how American Jews have helped build America since its establishment 250 years ago. He gave the example of Haym Salomon, the Polish-born financier who bankrolled the American Revolution and co-founded Philadelphia’s first synagogue. Despite his sacrifices, Solomon died penniless at the age of 44 and was buried in an unmarked grave.
“Like so many Jewish Americans who follow in his footsteps, Salomon’s legacy stands as a testament to the unshakable belief in the American promise,” Trump said.
Trump also cited President George Washington’s letter to the Hebrew Congregation at Newport, in which he proclaimed that the United States “gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance.”
“Under my leadership, we are aggressively fighting the violence against Jewish Americans that increased under my predecessor, prosecuting hateful criminals to the fullest extent of the law, and working to end the scourge of antisemitism throughout our institutions, especially on college campuses,” Trump said. He promised that, as president, he would continue to fight to protect religious freedom.
Bipartisan bill recognizes Jewish American Heritage Month
Former president George W. Bush announced that May would be considered Jewish American Heritage Month in 2006. Since then, annual proclamations have been made by presidents Bush, Obama, Trump, and Biden.
Just days ago, a bipartisan US House of Representatives resolution recognizing Jewish American Heritage Month was introduced.
The House of Representatives now calls on elected officials and civil society leaders to counter antisemitism and educate the public on the contributions of the Jewish-American community. It also emphasizes the one million Jewish men and women who have served in the US armed forces since the nation’s founding.
“This celebration is also one of the most effective ways to combat rising antisemitism, as Jews and non-Jews alike come to learn about all the amazing Jewish men and women who played critical roles to advance the American experiment over the past 250 years, including those who defended our nation in the military,” said Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, who led the resolution.
The Combat Antisemitism Movement has called on individual municipalities to recognize Jewish American Heritage Month. Last year, more than 200 municipalities did so. This forms part of CAM’s broader mission to equip municipal leaders with the knowledge, networks, and tools to combat antisemitism and support Jewish life in their cities.
